Jack Windrush

Chapter 3

In theory, respectable women in the nineteenth century were demure, peaceable wives who remained at home and looked after the house, husband, and children. In reality, many women escaped these bonds. Some females sailed on deep sea voyages, owned shares in ships and worked as missionaries. There were also female travellers and explorers.

For example, Gertrude Bell (1868 – 1926) spent much of her life travelling in the Middle East. Fluent in Arabic, Bell was also a mountaineer and archaeologist. Gertrude Benham was another adventurer. London-born, Benham climbed mountains across the Americas and Africa, travelling alone or with local guides. She was the first woman to climb Kilimanjaro, and Truda Peaks in British Columbia is named in her honour.

Mary Kingsley explored West Africa, Elizabeth Mazuchelli travelled the Himalayas, and the amazing Hester Stanhope (1776 – 1839) was a pioneer of archaeology in the Holy Land. An aristocrat, she travelled disguised as a man and allegedly had various romantic affairs. Her Memoirs are fascinating reading.

MemoirsIsabelle Eberhardt was another inveterate wanderer. The French Foreign Legion named her “The sss of the Sands,” among other things. Eberhardt was unique, born to emigrants in Geneva; she claimed no nationality, was fluent in at least six languages, dressed in male clothing and adopted Islam. She wandered North Africa and died tragically young.